FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2012
Contact:
Emy Maloutas, Parks and Public Lands Director
801-972-7804

City Seeks Public Input on Restoration Projects
Meetings will gather comments on watershed, habitat enhancements
 
SALT LAKE CITY – In the summer of 2010, a significant stretch of Salt Lake City’s watershed was impacted by the first of two oil releases from a Chevron petroleum pipeline accident near Red Butte Creek.
 
While Chevron remains liable for ongoing restoration and rehabilitation to the areas directly impacted by the oil spill, a portion of the funds from a settlement is being used to provide enhancements to critical watershed and riparian areas in the City.
 
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is administering this funding via a competitive grant process to enhance other areas that were impacted indirectly. These funds have been identified specifically for restoration and enhancement projects that will serve the community through three primary benefits: 1) ecological benefits associated with improved water quality and wildlife habitat; 2) recreation benefits in the form of an enhanced trail experience and wildlife viewing opportunities from land and water trails; and 3) natural and cultural historical benefits resulting from the conservation of critical ecosystem functions of the watershed corridors.
 
Salt Lake City was awarded funding to complete four restoration and enhancement projects. These projects are located at Miller Park Bird Refuge; Liberty Park Lake; Jordan River - 900 S. Oxbow; and Jordan River Trailside - 1800 North for 1 mile. Project concepts and summaries are provided at www.slcparks.com and the final designs for these projects will be developed in the coming months.
 
Salt Lake City is seeking input and participation from residents on these plans and will be hosting public meetings for all of the Red Butte Creek Restoration and Enhancement projects on the following dates:
 
Visioning     Thursday, Sept. 13
                   6-7:30 p.m.
 
Design Review 1     Tuesday, Oct. 30
                             6-7:30 p.m.
 
Design Review 2     Thursday, Dec. 6
                            6-7:30 p.m.
 
Design Review 3    Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013  
                            6-7:30 p.m.
 
All meetings will take place at the Parks & Public Lands Building, 1965 West 500 South.
 
For more information about these projects, to provide input online and for on-going updates, please visit www.slcparks.com or email parks@slcgov.com.